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Hometown Hernando

What's happening: Hernando

By Times Staff Writer
Published September 11, 2005

HIGH FIVES

Stanley Kaszuba III received his bachelor's degree in business, with honors, from St. Leo University in only three years.

Kaszuba is currently attending Nova Southeastern University in Davie, in South Florida, where he accepted a graduate assistant position in the student activities department while he pursues his master's degree.

Kaszuba is the son of Linda and Stanley Kaszuba II of Spring Hill.

The Kiwanis Club of Spring Hill recently invited Beverly Roclow, president of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, to speak at its weekly lunch meeting at the Residence at Timber Pines.

Roclow explained that the local SPCA animal shelter is a no-kill, all-volunteer organization. The shelter operates on donations and fundraisers.

Donations of pet food, professional services, cleaning supplies and veterinary medicines are always welcome. The shelter also needs volunteers to help with many tasks, such as cleaning the shelter, feeding and socializing with the animals.

Youth volunteers need to be at least 14 years old and have their parents' permission.

To adopt a pet at the SPCA, individuals must visit the shelter, choose a pet and fill out an adoption application. Once an application is approved, individuals pay the adoption fee and can then take home their pet, provided the pet has been spayed/neutered and had its shots and tests.

The shelter has many animals waiting for homes. For information, contact the shelter at 596-7000. The shelter is open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m Monday through Saturday, and is at 9075 Grant St., west of Brooksville. The mailing address is: P.O. Box 3161, Spring Hill, FL 34611-3161.

For information about the Kiwanis Club of Spring Hill, contact Beverly Reso, president, at 683-7668.

Sam Seletos, general manager of Sam's Club on Cortez Boulevard in Spring Hill, presented a check for $500 to the Heritage Pines Ladies Golf Association on Aug. 5.

The check was a donation from Sam's Club to benefit Rally for a Cure, a women's golf program promoting breast cancer awareness and supporting the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

On Aug. 6, members of the golf association traveled back to Sam's Club, where they were given the opportunity to collect donations from customers. At the end of the day, the women had collected $155, which Sam's Club then matched, giving them $310 for the day.

In total, the group received $810, which will benefit Rally for a Cure.

The group is currently selling tee sponsorships for $50 each, and proceeds will benefit Rally for a Cure.

The local youth earned the trip to Arkansas by winning the state competition in April. The four-person team, consisting of Amber McAndrew, Sara Moores, Kyle Morgan and Crystal Estrada, was accompanied by volunteer coach Joan Lemos and 4-H agent Nancy Moores.

The team has been studying environmental concerns, wildlife management practices, foods, aerial photography, public speaking, habitats and native species in an effort to be better stewards for the environment and for wildlife.

In addition, the team learned how to create and implement both rural and urban wildlife management plans specific to native species. Nationally, the Hernando team earned fourth place for its urban wildlife management plan and 11th place for its rural plan.

Combining scores for all six areas of competition, the team earned 10th place in the nation. Hernando County's top individual was Kyle Morgan, who earned enough points to stand 19th in the nation.

Several other youth participated in this year-long educational series taught in part by Peggy Gist, 4-H program assistant; Joan Lemos, volunteer master gardener; several other master gardeners, and Nancy Moores, 4-H agent.

The program is part of the 4-H commitment to assist youth in developing respect for the environment, nature and all inhabitants, and becoming land stewards .

The United Way of Hernando County was recently awarded a grant from the Governor's Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service to manage a volunteer recovery center in times of major disaster.

The arrival of several hurricanes last year prompted frantic calls from people asking for shelter volunteers and volunteers to assist with food, ice and the dissemination of donations. It became apparent there was no entity in place to handle volunteers and volunteer needs. Thus the local United Way stepped forward.

"United Way of Hernando is ecstatic to announce it is the recipient of an $8,000 grant to mobilize volunteers when and if a disaster strikes our county," said Valerie Orshal-Hunt, director of the Hernando United Way.

The intent of the program is to build new alliances among volunteer managers and a variety of emergency management, first responder and community organizations. The goal is to enhance the community's capacity to respond through the utilization of this new resource.

The United Way will be working closely with the the county's emergency disaster support function coordinator, Jean Rags, and county emergency management director Tom Leto to provide disaster volunteers and countywide training.

Interested volunteers should contact the United Way at 688-2026.

In an effort to increase participation in the annual Elks Hoop Shoot Free Throw competition, members of Brooksville Elks Lodge 2582 in Brooksville opened their annual contest to children at the Jerome Brown Community Center and the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hernando County. Ricky Munford served as the contest official.

In past years, the lodge had offered the contest to members' children or grandchildren, and to all local schools. Over the past few years, participation had declined. This year officials wanted to give more children the opportunity to participate.

At the Jerome Brown Center on Aug. 3, a free throw qualifier competition was held. The female winner in the 8- and 9-year-old category was Reubisha "Sha" Williams. In the female 12- and 13-year-old category, winners included Jena Huggins, first, and Chena Huggins, second.

The winner in the male 8- and 9-year-old category was Jeremiah Jackson. The male winners in the 10- and 11-year-old category were Jeremiah Roberts, first ; Clarence Holder, second, and Demitric Thororn, third.

In the male 12- and 13-year-old category, Tayah Joseph won first place; Devine Lane, second place, and Steven Simicevic, third place.

In early October, the lodge will invite the winners of the qualifiers to compete to represent the lodge at the regional competition. Following the October competition, the lodge will host a lunch and awards ceremony for those who participated in the qualifiers.

The Hernando Athletic Association's 3rd Division Eagles youth football team sincerely appreciates the community support at its car wash on Aug. 13 and the generosity of Spare Time Sports Bar & Eatery on Mariner Boulevard in Spring Hill, the team's sponsor.

The Hernando Athletic Association is a nonprofit organization. For more information about the league, call Kathy at 683-6855, Michelle at 683-9331 or Patty at 683-7506.

Kathy Mahla, president

Michelle Brown, fundraising coordinator

Patty Fulkerson, treasurer

Hernando Athletic Association

[Last modified September 11, 2005, 01:12:04]